Are the A’s for real?

September 9, 2023
Chicago Cubs — The Cubs got a little bit of bullpen help for the stretch run when Brad Boxberger was activated from the 60 day IL yesterday. He didn’t pitch yesterday, but did string together 4 scoreless appearances in his rehab outing before getting called back up. Boxberger was a key part of the Cubs bullpen before his injury, although the forearm injury that sidelined him was evident in his below average results. It’s too early to know how he will be deployed, but he could emerge as a sneaky holds candidate for the contending Cubs.  

Hierarchy remains: Alzolay | Leiter Jr. | Merryweather.

Oakland A’s – What if I told you that the Oakland A’s have won 5 of their last 7 games? Granted 3 of those were a sweep of the flailing Angels, but even so, Trevor May has now recorded 19 saves on the season. Behind him, Dany Jimenez, who picked up the 8th inning hold last night, has emerged as a relatively reliable bridge to the 9th inning, so he rejoins the hierarchy. 

Updated hierarchy: May | Erceg | Jimenez.

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Reynaldo Lopez (CLE) — Emmanuel Clase has pitched in 3 straight, while Trevor Stephan has gone in back to back and 3 of 4.
  2. Colin Poche (TB) — Pete Fairbanks has gone in 3 of 4 and threw 23 pitches last night, while Poche is well rested.

For Sunday:

  1. Jordan Hicks (TOR) — Jordan Romano threw 29 pitches yesterday, so another outing today could earn him a day off.
  2. Luis Erceg (OAK) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Trevor May.
  3. Brusdar Graterol (LAD) — Today would be 3 in a row for Evan Phillips.
  4. Tyler Rogers (SF) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for San Francisco.

Kittridge returns for Tampa Bay and the vultures look at 3 double headers.

August 19, 2023
Tampa Bay Rays – Andrew Kittridge had not pitched in the majors since June 7, 2022, when he was the nominal leader of the volatile Tampa Bay Rays committee. After a 15 month recovery from Tommy John surgery, and a long minor league rehab stint he was expected to ease his way back into major league shape. Instead, when the Rays scored 3 in the top of the 10th, he was called on to close the door. He threw 15 pitches, 12 for strikes and secured his first save on the season. It will take more than that to crack the hierarchy, but Kittredge was one of Tampa Bay’s best relievers in 2022 and has a chance to return to high leverage work. 

Hierarchy remains: Fairbanks | Adam | Poche.

Oakland A’s – The A’s put Angel Felipe on the 15-day IL with an elbow injury. Elbows are never good new, so this may turn into a longer term stint. Oakland has won just 2 of their last 10 games, so while Trevor May might have some value, the rest of the bullpen is best left alone. If the A’s string some wins together, expect Lucas Erceg or Kirby Snead to be in the mix for a vulture save.  

Hierarchy remains: May | Erceg | Snead.

Vulture Save Watch:

  1. Reynaldo Lopez/Matt Moore (LAA) — Carlos Estevez threw 43 pitches last night and will need the day off AND the Angels have a doubleheader today.
  2. Jordan Weems (WAS) — Kyle Finnegan has pitched in 3 straight, leaving Jordan Weems relatively rested.
  3. Austin Cox (KC) — Carlos Hernandez has pitched in back to back games, including 26 pitches last night.
  4. Tanner Scott (MIA) — The Marlins play a doubleheader…
  5. Brusdar Graterol (LAD) — …Against the Dodgers.
  6. Kevin Ginkel (ARI) — The Diamondbacks play a doubleheader…
  7. Robert Suarez (SD) — …against the Padres.
  8. Jason Adam (TB) — The Rays play a doubleheader against the Angels.

For Sunday:

  1. Beau Brieske/Tyler Holton (DET) — Today would be back to back and 3 of 4 for Jason Foley.
  2. AJ Minter (ATL) — and Raisel Iglesias.

Blown-save-a-palooza hits bullpens across baseball

August 14, 2023

New York Yankees – Clay Holmes has been great lately, but yesterday was bad, as he coughed up a 4-run lead and then took the loss after Tommy Kahnle was unable to stem the damage. Holmes was in and out of a committee earlier this season, and we’ll see if this outing changes the way the Yankees approach the 9th inning. Our guess is it won’t… yet. In other news, Michael King is being stretched out to potentially start games, so we’ll swap Wandy Peralta into the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Holmes | Kahnle | Peralta.

Oakland A’s – Trevor May had also been going well, having allowed just 1 earned run in his last 10.2 innings. But he coughed up an even bigger lead than Holmes, allowing five baserunners to reach while only recording two outs. Kirby Snead (and the A’s defense) did him no favors, as the Nats plated six runs in the inning to walk it off. May is still likely the closer here but we’ll watch to see if he falters again.

Hierarchy remains: May | Felipe | Long.

Texas Rangers – In the least awful — but perhaps most consequential — blown save of the evening, Will Smith had the Giants down to their final out, but then served up a walkoff 2-run home run to Patrick Bailey. Given how good Aroldis Chapman has been, this could push Bruce Bochy back to a committee. We’ll see how it plays out.

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Chapman | Sborz.

Baltimore Orioles – With Felix Bautista getting the day off, the Orioles still used setup man Yennier Cano in the 8th inning, leaving the 9th to Mike Baumann, who promptly blew the save. Shintaro Fujinami ended up shutting the door in extra innings for his first career save. (By the way, Cedric Mullins was the real story of this game, as he robbed a homer then hit a go-ahead homer minutes later, but we don’t really care about hitters that much.)

Hierarchy remains: Bautista | Cano | Fujinami.

New York Mets – Adam Ottavino pitched a perfect 9th inning, inducing three groundouts, to pick up his 7th save. Brooks Raley had a forgettable outing in the 8th, allowing a home run and a walk before Drew Smith bailed him out. We’ll switch up the committee accordingly, though this is still a fluid situation.

Updated hierarchy: *Ottavino | Raley | Smith.
* = closer-by-committee

Pittsburgh Pirates – Carmen Mlodzinski was placed on the IL over the weekend, so we’ll welcome Angel Perdomo to this hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Bednar | Holderman | Perdomo.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today

1. Tommy Kahnle – Clay Holmes has gone two of three, including the aforementioned 23-pitch blown save yesterday.
2. Matt Brash – Andres Munoz has gone back to back.
3. Scott McGough – Same for Paul Sewald and Kevin Ginkel.

Tomorrow
1. Yennier Cano – If Felix Bautista goes today, he’s likely off tomorrow given his recent workload and pattern of usage.
2. Reynaldo Lopez – If Carlos Estevez goes today, it’s back to back.
3. Tyler Rogers – Same for Camilo Doval.
4. Aroldis Chapman/Josh Sborz – If Will Smith or Aroldis Chapman go today, it’s back to back and three of four.
5. Colin Holderman/Angel Perdomo – The whole Pirates hierarchy — plus a few others — pitched yesterday so monitor usage today for a potential vulture tomorrow.

Let the Phil Bickford era begin

August 10, 2023

New York Mets — Wednesday night, the save opportunity was all Adam Ottavino’s. But the veteran just didn’t have it, yielding a homer, a single, and a walk to put the go-ahead run on base. Naturally, the Mets turned to journeyman Phil Bickford, he of the 5.96 ERA, most famous for earning a seventh-inning save in a rainout and giving up Albert Pujols’s 700th home run. A bunt, a walk, and two strikeouts later, the Mets had the win, Bickford had his first ninth-inning save, and New York? Well, New York had a brand new hero. 

Hierarchy remains: *Raley | Ottavino | Smith.
* = closer-by-committee

St. Louis Cardinals — It’s been almost two weeks since St. Louis needed a save, but this time Oliver Marmol used JoJo Romero in the seventh and eighth, and Giovanny Gallegos in the ninth. This is more like what we expected after Jordan Hicks moved to Toronto, but don’t be surprised if Romero and Gallegos continue to split opportunities.

Updated hierarchy: *Gallegos | Romero | Pallante.
* = closer-by-committee

Oakland A’s — Dany Jimenez’s return didn’t keep him in Oakland long; he was sent to Las Vegas on Wednesday. Taking his place in the A’s hierarchy is 25-year-old rookie Angel Felipe, who has three holds in his last three appearances. Felipe has struggled with control this season, but has also induced a lot of groundouts and strikeouts.

Updated hierarchy: May | Felipe | Long.

Detroit Tigers — Jose Cisnero’s entry into the game up five with the bases loaded was enough to earn him a save on the strength of a single strikeout. Cisnero was probably second in line Wednesday due to Jason Foley’s temporary placement on the bereavement list.

Hierarchy remains: *Lange | Foley | Holton.
* = closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today:
1. Yennier Cano (BAL) — Felix Bautista threw 30 pitches on Tuesday and might get two days off.
2. AJ Minter (ATL) — Raisel Iglesias has pitched in three straight.
3. Daniel Bard/Jake Bird (COL) — Justin Lawrence has gone in two straight and three of four.
4. Brusdar Graterol (LAD) — Evan Phillips has gone back-to-back.

Friday:
1. Chris Martin (BOS) — If Kenley Jansen goes today, it’ll be three of four.
2. Erik Swanson (TOR) — Same for Jordan Hicks.
3. Colin Holderman (PIT) — And David Bednar.

Erik Swanson and Will Smith record saves

August 6, 2023

Toronto Blue Jays – A day after Jordan Hicks picked up his first save as a Blue Jay, Toronto went back to Erik Swanson.  Swanson gave up a run but benefited from the Red Sox getting doubled up off second base on a fly out to end the game.   It appears to be a true committee while Jordan Romano is out but we will see if Hicks or Swanson can get a leg up.

Hierarchy remains: *Hicks | Swanson | Garcia.
*=closer-by-committee

Texas Rangers – Will Smith was a little shaky yesterday, giving up a two-run homer, but luckily he was staked with a three run lead and was able to close out the win for his 20th save of the season.  Smith has three saves already in August and has five saves since Aroldis Chapman’s save on July 15th. 

Hierarchy remains: *Smith | Chapman | Sborz.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago White Sox — Gregory Santos has been placed on the bereavement list.  Aaron Bummer and Bryan Shaw combined to finish off the White Sox victory and should continue to fill in for Santos while he is out.

Hierarchy remains: *Santos | Bummer | Shaw.
* = closer-by-committee

Detroit Tigers — For the second straight appearance, Alex Lange really struggled with his control.  Lange walked the first two batters he faced but was able to get a double play from the next batter.  However, after Lange walked Wander Franco, the Tigers pulled him and brought on Beau Brieske.  Brieske retired the only batter he faced for his first save.  If Lange’s control issues continue, we could see Jason Foley and Tyler Holton, who got the 8th inning hold last night, in the mix for saves.

Updated hierarchy: Lange | Foley | Holton

Oakland A’s — The A’s have activated Dany Jimenez from the IL and we expect him to work his way to the back end of their bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: May | Jimenez | Long.

Washington Nationals – Mason Thompson has been placed on the IL.  Andres Machado should see more time in the later innings while Thompson is out.

Updated hierarchy: Finnegan | Weems | Machado.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Today
1. Wandy Peralta (NYY) – Clay Holmes and Tommy Kahnle have both pitched in three of four while Michael King has pitched in two of three, throwing a total of 39 pitches.
2. Justin Topa (SEA) – Andres Munoz and Matt Brash have both pitched in three of four.
3. Andres Machado/Jose Ferrer (WAS) – Kyle Finnegan and Jordan Weems have both gone in two straight and three of four. Andres Machado has also pitched in two straight.
4. Colin Holderman (PIT) – David Bednar has pitched in two straight, including a blown save yesterday.
5. Bryan Shaw/Insert Reliever Here (CHW) – Gregory Santos is on the bereavement list while Aaron Bummer threw 33 pitches yesterday and Bryan Shaw has gone in two straight. If Bryan Shaw is unavailable, the White Sox will need to dig deep after trading most of their bullpen arms at the deadline.

Monday
1. Griffin Jax (MIN) – If Jhoan Duran pitches on Sunday, it will be three of four and four of six.
2. Aroldis Chapman/Josh Sborz (TEX) – If Will Smith pitches on Sunday, it will be two straight and three of four. Same for Aroldis Chapman.